Germany defeated England with the help of two students in Cologne, who spent
months analysing television footage of Fabio Capello's team and also Steven
Gerrard, Gareth Barry and John Terry in action for their clubs.

The students emailed their findings to the German camp before last weekend's knockout game in Bloemfontein won 4-1 by Joachim Löw's well-briefed side. Germany's sweet smell of success comes from Cologne.

From the data provided by the students, the Deutsche Fussball-Bund's head of scouting, Urs Siegenthaler, produced a 15-minute video, highlighting that Terry could be pulled out of position and Gerrard and Barry would not keep their midfield positions, so were vulnerable to the counter-attack.

Quick surges, particularly in the second half, caught England out as Thomas Müller struck twice to seal victory.

"We knew what to expect from England,'' said Philipp Lahm, the Germany captain, speaking at their training ground on Thursday. "We changed our tactics and were optimally prepared and that's why we won.''

"I want to thank the students in Cologne,'' Bierhoff said. "Their input is very valuable. We have so much information that we have to decide which are the most important details to give to our players. But we don't sit down for hours to watch videos.

With assistance from Cologne, the Germans have been analysing Argentina, Saturday's quarter-final opponents in Cape Town.

"It is not going to be easy because Argentina are a stronger side than England,'' Bierhoff added. "There were some obvious English weaknesses that had all been shown in the group stages.

"Argentina are much more powerful. Preparation for any game is key and you have to have as much info as possible. Thanks to technology we have it.''

Thanks to two students at the German University of Sport. An insight into Cologne's importance came from the DfB.

"We have a small part of it where coaches get their qualifications on a year's course,'' explained Harald Stengen. "Christian Ziege and Markus Babbel have just done theirs.

"In the part of the university that doesn't belong to us there are students studying degrees to become sports administrators or club executives and we use them to study teams.

"Because of our connections with broadcasters we get footage of all the games, in leagues and internationals, so we know everything about individual players and their international teams. They get paid but they are students. It's not expensive.

"Two students studied each of the 31 teams here. It started five years ago, when Jürgen Klinsmann was coach. It was his idea.

"They have analysed the Argentinians for us just as they analysed England. They analyse each player for his strengths and weaknesses.

"Does he swing the corner in or out? How does he take free-kicks or penalties? How does he play in one-on-one situations? Does he prefer to go left or right?

"They look at anything that will be important to us in playing teams like England and Argentina.

"They've watched all their games in qualifying as well as out here. They then send this encyclopedia of info to Siegenthaler. He digests it and makes a video for Jogi [Löw] and the team to look at.

"There are also special clips made for each player, like for Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich to know everything about the opposing strikers.''

Leaving nothing to chance, the German goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke will liaise with Manuel Neuer if the game goes to penalties.

Germany defeated Argentina at the last World Cup because Jens Lehmann had a slip of paper down his sock, detailing where the takers liked to place their kicks.

It was impossible to escape the feeling that even these media briefings were part of Germany's preparations.

Twenty-four hours before, Bastian Schweinsteiger had opened up the debate on Argentina's "provocative'' behaviour following their post-match ruck four years ago.

It was incendiary stuff, but his captain agreed. "Referees have to act according to the book,'' Lahm said. "We know South Americans are a temperamental lot, but we just have to be cool.

"It remains to be seen how the South Americans deal with another defeat on Saturday.''

Bierhoff concurred, throwing in a compliment first. "I myself had the fortune to play alongside many Argentinians and they are the most cordial, hospitable and friendly – but not necessarily on the pitch, where they tend to be provocative and aggressive,'' Bierhoff said.

"I don't really think what Bastian said was so controversial at all. Bastian is reserved and softly-spoken and the last person who tries to put oil into the fire.''

Germany, who expect Lukas Podolski and Mesut Özil to be fit after light knocks, know that Lionel Messi and the rest of Argentina's attackers provide a formidable test.

Lahm observed that taming Messi would be a "collective'' effort.

"You can only act against such a brilliant guy as Messi as a team,'' the full-back said. "He really goes into one-on-ones as if it was his last.''

Lahm cannot wait. "Now we are up against our own Big Five,'' said the Germany captain, slipping into safari mode.

"We have to show we can finally beat a big team – someone like Argentina, Brazil or Spain. These are bigger opponents than England.''